Who? the Albanian Ministries of Culture and Education, specialists of the Regional Directorates of National Culture and the specialists of the Regional Educational Directorates and their teachers

What? Launch of the campaign/project "Monument's Friend" with the moto "I protect my monument", one monument is "adopted" by a school and activities to protect, conserve, promote and take care of the monument are organized throughout the year.

What?The International Monuments Day in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be dedicated to the first written work in national language and script - western Cyrillic script, popularly called "bosančica", published in Venice in 1611.

What?Exhibition on “the architectures that have vanished in Beihai Park---Wanfo Building and Dafodian Building Ensemble and public lectures given by professors of Tianjin University School of Architecture, on architectural conservation and restoration

Who ? ICOMOS Croatia with the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka

What? Conference 4th Dialogues with Heritage (Dijalozi s bastinom): The image of monument and the principle of change. That is the relationship between conservation methodology and the principle of change, manifested recently both in social and professional perception and treatment of Croatia*s cultural heritage.

Who ? ICOMOS Hellenic, the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and the Hellenic National Committee for UNESCO and in collaboration with the National Technical University of Athens, the Association of Greek Archaeologists, the Technical Chamber of Greece and the Association of Architects

April, 18Banten: the Celebration of World Heritage Day 2014 and the Declaration of Heritage Conservation Integration Program, held by the Indonesian Heritage Trust, Coordinating Ministry of People Welfare, the Government of Banten, and Banten HeritageMedan: Open House and Heritage Photo Exhibition for Student, held by Sumatera Heritage TrustPadang: Discussion “Inspirational Traditional Architecture”, held by Pusaka Kedepan, Bung Hatta UniversityJogjakarta: Lecture and Workshop of Batik with Ms Larasati Suliantoro as speaker, held by Jogja Heritage SocietySolo: Creative Art Performances – Good Morning Radya Pustaka Museum, held by Mataya Arts CommunitySolo: Village Heritage Mapping, held by Solo MunicipalityDenpasar: Heritage Talk, held by Bali Kuna Heritage SocietyMalang: 100 years of Malang, held by Malang Tempo Doeloe Community Surabaya: Sketch on Heritage Living Path, held by Soerabaia Heritage SocietyManado: Discussion “Damaged Heritage Rapid Assessment aftermath flood in Manado”, held by Manado Heritage CommunitySumba: Discussion “Young Leader in the Ring of Fire: Save the Islands and Coastal Heritage”Jakarta: the Opening Ceremony of Rumah Puspo: the Heritage Learning Center, held by Puspo BudoyoBorobudur: Ruwat Rawat Borobudur, held by Warung Info Jagad Cleguk Borobudur CommunityGorontalo: Gorontalo Heritage Discussion, held by Gorontalo HeritageMojokerto: Ruwatan Bumi Astawulan, held by Save Trowulan CommunitySemarang: Discussion “Towards Semarang for Heritage City”, a Folk Art Festival and Book Launching “Pasar Imlek Semawis 2014” in Boen Hian Tong (Rasa Dharma)Papua: Cultural Values inventory in Kaimana, West Papua, held by Cendrawasih University & Yayasan Budaya PapuaGresik: Gresik Heritage Trail, held by ASSIK CommunityTulungagung: Discussion “Creative Economy based on Heritage”, held by Gadhe CommunityMuaro Jambi: “Candi Sembilan Heritage Trail”, held by Jambi Heritage SocietyMakassar: “Art Performances and Exhibition”, held by Makassar State MuseumMuntok: “Art Mural on Heritage Conservation around Kampung Petenun”, held by Muntok Heritage Community

April, 19Banten: “Banten Lama Heritage Trail”, held by Banten HeritageSurabaya: “World Heritage Day Carnival on Car Free Day in Surabaya”, held by Paguyuban Cak dan Ning SurabayaSemarang: “Tradtional Snack Festival in Waroeng Semawis”, held by Kopi SemawisMojokerto: “Bantengan Festival and Photography Competition”, held by Mojokerto Regency

April, 20Jakarta: Discussion “Conserving Elephant as Heritage Animal”, held by Friends of Ragunan ZooSolo: Thousand of Children Write Javanese Letter on Car Free Day in Solo, held by Mataya CommunitySumpur: The Ceremony of “Tegakkan Tonggak Tuo” for the reconstruction of Rumah Gadang Traditional Houses, held by Pusaka, Rumah Asuh, Yayasan Tirto, Sumpur Community and the Indonesian Heritage Trust

April, 21Bandung: the Visit of ICOMOS Sub Shelter in Bandung

April, 23Jakarta: Presentation “Support Balinese Traditional Dance” with Bulantrisna Djelantik as speaker and Legong Dance Performance by Bengkel Tari Ayu Bulan in University of IndonesiaBogor: Discussion “Commemoration for Raden Saleh”, held by the Petition of Raden Saleh Community

Who ?ICOMOS Ireland in collaboration with the Irish National Committee of the Blue Shield

What? A seminar to commemorate the International Day of Sites and Monuments 18 April 2014, on the theme of ‘commemoration’. As the Hague Convention is 60 years old this year, the event will feature three short presentations on the following topics:• A brief outline of the Blue Shield,• A note on the Hague Convention (1954) and its protocols• ‘Reflecting on the climate/weather events of the last few months in the light of the Heritage Council and Fáilte Ireland’s “Climate Change, Heritage and Tourism: Implications for Ireland’s Coast and Inland Waterways” Report from 2009’. A presentation by Beatrice Kelly of the Heritage Council

What? Celebration of the international day of sites and monuments, the Heritage of Commemoration has been inspired by the centennial of the Great War 1914-1918. The day offers a wide program of cultural events and activities aiming to reflect and commemorate the many tragedies of this war. The day will be characterised by a number of discussions, dramatics, and events on heritage protection and conservation.

What? Free entry to all museums for Kenyan Citizens and the unveiling a historic plaque at the Nairobi Gallery, which is a 103 year old building and a National Monument, where Heritage Walking tours of Nairobi commence from.

What? Announcement of Establishment of a Sub-Committee of ICOMOS Macedonia on Memorial Monuments.Announcement of the Project: Memory of disappeared urban and rural vernacular architecture – a project financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia

What? Guided visits of the World Heritage Site from 9.00 hrs to 17.00 hrsHeritage Walk in the surroundings of the World Heritage Site from 9.00 hrs to 17.00 hrsEducational activities for children: storytelling, traditional techniques of construction and history of ceramics.

Who ? Peruvian Committee of ICOMOS, Metropolitan Municipality of Lima, Peruvian Museum of the Minerals “Andres del Castillo”, Historic Centre of Lima Network for Monuments, National Organization or Architects of Peru, Regional Organization of Architects of the Regional of Metropolitan Lima

What? Opening of photography exhibition “World Heritage commemorative sites” with a performance of the national choir Niños del Perú

When? April 10 6:30 pm

Where? Convent San Francisco el Grande

What? Photography contest and a tour of monuments that speak about this year’s theme “heritage of commemoration”.

Who ?Peruvian Committee of ICOMOS, Metropolitan Municipality of Lima, Peruvian Museum of the Minerals “Andres del Castillo”, Historic Centre of Lima Network for Monuments, National Organization or Architects of Peru, Regional Organization of Architects of the Regional of Metropolitan Lima

What? Scientific symposium on commemorative heritage

When? 26 April 2014, 9:00 – 13:00 p.m.

Where? Hall of mirrors at the municipal hall of Lima.

What? Photography contest and closing party, including a folk parade towards the park of the exhibition, a tour around the park of the exhibition and traditional music and dances closing performance

What? A document presentation of monuments to list of the World heritage in the theme "The Heritage of Commemoration". These monuments compose ; The architectural group of Prince Narisara Nuvadtivongs,The great architect, and The Death Railway,is famous in the world, also know as The Burma - Siam railway, built by the Empire of Japan in 1943 of World war II including The Bridge on the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi province which indicate the important commemorative representation of architecture.

What? Event: "Memory-War-Monument" covering the presentations; "Architectural Memoralisation of War: Ars Memoriae and the Landscapes of Gallipoli Battles" and "Bastions of the Thracian Region of Turkey: Problems and Recommendations for Protection".

What? World Heritage Weekend, We’re having an all-singing, all-dancing World Heritage weekend! See Fountains’ ages brought to life by medieval crafts, dance and cookery and elegant Georgian costume and fan-making. We’re reviewing our World Heritage Site Management Plan this year so why not take the opportunity to have your say about what you think should happen on the estate over the next six years.

What?the publication of the document “18 de abril de 2014, Día Internacional de los monumentos y sitios: Venezuela y su patrimonio de la Conmemoración a través del tiempo” on the blog. This document was prepared in order to diffuse the thematic evolution of this built heritage in Venezuela.

]]>gaia.jungeblodt@icomos.org (Gaia Jungeblodt)What we doWed, 26 Feb 2014 15:47:47 +0000The ICOMOS procedure for evaluating nominations to the World Heritage Listhttp://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/image-what-we-do/646-the-icomos-procedure-for-evaluating-nominations-to-the-world-heritage-list
http://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/image-what-we-do/646-the-icomos-procedure-for-evaluating-nominations-to-the-world-heritage-listThe ICOMOS procedure is described in Annex 6 of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention. It is regulated by the Policy for the implementation of the ICOMOS World Heritage mandate(latest revision in October 2012). This policy makes public the existing procedure, and sets out the fair, transparent and credible approach ICOMOS adopts in fulfilling its world heritage remit, and the way it avoids conflicts of interest.

The evaluation of nominations is coordinated by the World Heritage Unit of the International Secretariat of ICOMOS, in collaboration with the ICOMOS World Heritage Working Group and the ICOMOS World Heritage Panel.

The ICOMOS World Heritage Working Group consists of officers of ICOMOS, the World Heritage Unit and ICOMOS advisers. It meets two or three times a year, and is responsible for the guidance and orientation of work relating to the World Heritage.

The ICOMOS World Heritage Panel, which brings together some thirty persons, is made up of members of the ICOMOS Executive Committee and of experts who are invited each year depending on the nature of the properties nominated (rock art, 20th century heritage, industrial heritage, etc.). TICCIH and DoCoMoMo are also invited to participate in discussions in which their expertise is relevant. The Panel represents the various professional, geographic and cultural sensibilities present at the international level. It prepares the ICOMOS recommendations for each nomination on a collegial basis.

For each nominated property, ICOMOS assesses:

whether it bears testimony of an outstanding universal value:

whether it meets the criteria of the Operational Guidelines;

whether it meets the conditions of authenticity and integrity;whether legal protection is adequate;

whether the management processes are satisfactory.

All properties are given equal attention, and ICOMOS also makes every effort to be as objective, scientific and rigorous as possible.

In order to reinforce consistency of the evaluations and recommendations, and to check which additional information requests should be sent to State Parties, ICOMOS uses a check box tool. In addition, a specific session with the advisers is organised to ensure consistency of approach on all aspects throughout all evaluations.

1 Preparatory work

The preparatory work is done in several stages:

a. Initial study of dossiers: This first stage of the work consists of the creation of an inventory of the nomination dossier documents, a study of them to identify the various issues relating to the property and the choice of the various experts who will be called on to study the dossier (ICOMOS advisers, experts for mission, experts for consultations). A compilation of all relevant comparative material (Tentative Lists, properties already on the World Heritage List, nomination dossiers, “filling the gaps” ICOMOS study, etc.) is prepared in order to assist the work of the advisers on the specific item of comparative analysis.

b. Consultations: Experts are consulted to express their opinion about the comparative analysis and the outstanding universal value of the nominated properties with reference to the ten criteria set out in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (July 2012), § 77.

For this purpose, ICOMOS calls on the following:

ICOMOS International Scientific Committees;

Individual ICOMOS members with special expertise, identified after consultation with International and National Committees;

Non-ICOMOS members with specific expertise, identified after consultation within the ICOMOS networks.

c. Technical evaluation missions: As a rule, ICOMOS calls on a person from the region in which the nominated property is located. In certain exceptional circumstances, often in cases in which the nature of the property is unusual, the expert may not originate from the region concerned. The objective of the missions is to study the authenticity, integrity, factors affecting the property, protection, conservation and management (Operational Guidelines, § 78).

Experts are sent a copy of the nomination (or all relevant parts of it, when the dossier is particularly extensive), a note with key questions based on a preliminary examination of the dossiers, documentation on the Convention and detailed guidelines for evaluation missions.

All experts have a duty of confidentiality. Their opinion about the nomination does not necessarily reflect that of the organisation; it is the ICOMOS World Heritage Panel which, after acquainting itself with all the information, analyses it and determines the organisation's position.

Missions are sent to all the nominated properties except in the case of nominations referred back for which the Operational Guidelines do not stipulate that a mission is necessary. (Note: The principle is that properties are referred back because additional information is necessary, and not because thorough or substantial modifications are needed; the deadlines set in the Operational Guidelines mean moreover that it is not possible to organise missions, desk reviews or consideration by the full ICOMOS World Heritage Panel for properties referred back).

For mixed property nominations, technical evaluation missions are carried out jointly with IUCN, and ICOMOS and IUCN exchange information about draft recommendations. Furthermore, ICOMOS consults IUCN on cultural landscape nominations, includes comments received in the evaluations and taken them into account in its recommendations.

2 Evaluations and recommendations

a.ICOMOS World Heritage Panel: Draft evaluations (in either English or French) are prepared on the basis of the information contained in the nomination dossiers, mission reports, consultations and research. They are examined by the ICOMOS World Heritage Panel when it meets in Paris in early December each year. The Panel defines the recommendations and identifies the additional information requests to be sent to the State Parties.

b. Additional information request: Additional information requests for some of the nominated properties are sent to the State Parties by 31 January, in accordance with the normal procedure. All documents received by 28 February are examined by the World Heritage Working Group at its meeting in March.

c. Finalisation of the evaluation volume and its presentation to the World Heritage Committee: Following these meetings, revised evaluations are prepared in both working languages, printed and dispatched to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre for distribution to members of the World Heritage Committee before its annual session.

Nominated properties and ICOMOS recommendations are presented to the World Heritage Committee by ICOMOS advisers in PowerPoint form.

As an advisory body, ICOMOS makes a recommendation based on an objective, rigorous and scientific analysis. However, decisions are the responsibility of the World Heritage Committee. The process relies on the Committee members and their knowledge of the nominations and the evaluations published by the advisory organisations.

3 Dialogue with State Parties

ICOMOS makes every effort to maintain dialogue with the State Parties throughout the nomination evaluation process, i.e. following receipt of the nominations, during and after the technical evaluation mission, and following the meeting of the ICOMOS World Heritage Panel. The information requested relates to precise details or clarifications, but does not invite a complete reformulation of the nomination dossier.

ICOMOS is in favour of this dialogue. The replies provided by the State Parties have often provided confirmation or assistance in the adoption of the final recommendations made by ICOMOS.

ICOMOS recommendations are made available to the members of the World Heritage Committee six weeks before the beginning of the session. ICOMOS is at the State Parties’ disposal for discussions and explanations about its recommendations. However, time constraints are a problem, and ICOMOS is in favour of fuller discussions about how this dialogue may be improved.

4 Referred back nominations and requests for minor modifications

On 1st February preceding the World Heritage Committee meeting, ICOMOS also receives supplementary information on nominations referred back during previous sessions of the Committee. As indicated above, ICOMOS does not organise technical evaluation missions for the evaluation of this supplementary information. Such supplementary information is examined by the World Heritage Working Group, at its March meeting.

ICOMOS also examines requests for "minor" modifications to boundaries or creation of buffer zones, and for changes of criteria or name for some properties already inscribed on the World Heritage List.

5 Conclusion

In reaching its recommendations to the World Heritage Committee, ICOMOS relies on the Operational Guidelines and the direction of the World Heritage Committee.

The opinion of ICOMOS is both independent and institutional. The opinion of one of its members is not binding on the organisation, and the evaluation texts are each the work of between 40-50 persons for each nomination, with several stages of in-depth peer review. ICOMOS represents cultural heritage experts throughout the five regions and is working to protect the entire cultural heritage of the world.

ICOMOS takes a professional view of the dossiers reviewed, and when appropriate makes recommendations for all the properties for which nominations have been submitted to it, independently of the outstanding regional or universal scope of their values.

Paris, April 2013

]]>gaia.jungeblodt@icomos.org (Gaia Jungeblodt)What we doFri, 23 Aug 2013 11:34:10 +0000ICOMOS Analysis of 2013 nominationshttp://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/image-what-we-do/644-icomos-analysis-of-2013-nominations
http://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/image-what-we-do/644-icomos-analysis-of-2013-nominations(this text is the introduction to the printed volume of 2013 ICOMOS Evaluations of nominations of mixted and cultural properties to the World Heritage List, presented to the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, Phnom Penh, June 2013)

1 Quality and complexity of nomination dossiers

Generally speaking, ICOMOS notes that nominations are increasingly complex, sometimes to the detriment of the dossiers’ clarity and coherence.

Certain nominations would benefit if more time were taken in preparing the nomination, for example to complete the legal protection process, finalise a management plan or undertake additional research.

ICOMOS hopes that the publication of the Resource Manual for the Preparation of Nominations, of which an electronic version is now available on its website, and on the World Heritage Centre website, will help the State Parties to improve the quality of nomination dossiers.

In most cases, the weakest parts of the nomination dossiers are the comparative analysis, integrity and/or monitoring.

When evaluating the comparative analysis included in nomination dossiers, ICOMOS examines the methodology used by the State Party and the relevance of the examples given by using the following parameters. Comparisons should be drawn with properties expressing the same values as the nominated property and within a defined geo-cultural area. Therefore the values need to be clearly defined and the geo-cultural framework should be determined according to these values. Comparisons should be drawn with similar properties already inscribed on the World Heritage List and with other examples at national and international level within the defined geo-cultural area.

On the basis of the above, ICOMOS indicates whether or not the comparative analysis is complete and whether or not the analysis justifies consideration of the property for the World Heritage List.

If the nomination is considered incomplete or insufficient according to the parameters indicated above, ICOMOS requests additional information from the State Party, checks relevant ICOMOS thematic studies, and the wealth of information available about properties already evaluated and/or inscribed on the World Heritage List, and on the Tentative Lists, and consults the ICOMOS network of experts to improve its understanding of the nomination.

ICOMOS wishes to point out that its role is to evaluate the properties on the basis of the information provided in the nominations (i.e. the dossiers), and on the basis of on-the-spot assessment and additional studies. Similarly, it evaluates the protection, conservation and management of the property at the time of the nomination and not at some unspecified time in the future after the adoption of the laws and management plans. It is the duty of ICOMOS to indicate to the Committee whether or not adequate protection and management are in place prior to inscription.

2 ICOMOS evaluations

The objective of ICOMOS is the conservation and long-term protection and presentation of the cultural heritage, whether or not it is of outstanding universal value. In formulating its recommendations, ICOMOS therefore aims to be as helpful as possible to State Parties, whatever the final recommendation proposed.

ICOMOS is well aware that it cannot please everyone. Despite being under considerable pressure, not only from State Parties, it must remain objective, rigorous and scientific, and its first duty remains the conservation of properties.

3 Strengthening of dialogue with State Parties

The requests for additional information were sent out prior to the carrying out of the evaluation process.

The ICOMOS World Heritage Panel meeting was held at the beginning of December 2012, so that the letters requesting additional information could be sent out in December, leaving the State Parties time to reply.

The replies provided by the State Parties have in many cases confirmed or assisted the adoption of the final recommendations made by ICOMOS.

4 “Referred back” nominations – “Deferred” nominations

At the request of the World Heritage Committee, ICOMOS and IUCN presented at the 34th session in Brasilia an information document concerning the processes, points of reference and time constraints arising from decisions to refer back or defer the examination of a nomination.

ICOMOS wishes to once again express its concerns about the difficulties raised when a “deferred” recommendation is changed into a “referred back” recommendation, which does not allow the advisory bodies to carry out an appropriate evaluation of nominations which are in many cases entirely new.

ICOMOS has moreover carried out two advisory missions for “referred back” properties, at the request of the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session. This process is not covered by the Operational Guidelines and its implementation may prove to be complex.

In its recommendations, ICOMOS clearly distinguishes between nominations which are recommended to be referred back and those which are deferred. For referred back nominations, Outstanding Universal Value has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of ICOMOS; supplementary information must be supplied to satisfy other requirements of Operational Guidelines, but no further technical evaluation mission will be required. For deferred nominations, the very nature of the information requested (a more thorough study, major reconsideration of boundaries, a request for a substantial revision, or serious gaps as regards management and conservation issues) means that a new mission and consideration by the full ICOMOS World Heritage Panel are necessary to evaluate the nomination again, and to ensure that it has the consideration needed to advance the nomination further.

5 "Minor" modifications to boundaries

The number of such requests has greatly increased. They originate either from monitoring, the retrospective inventory or periodic reporting.

The examination of these requests involves a considerable workload for ICOMOS in terms of examining the initial nomination, progress reports on conservation and earlier decisions of the World Heritage Committee, research, consultations and analysis. This year several requests for minor modifications were made by State Parties in respect of a report on the state of conservation or a retrospective inventory. To ensure that they are examined in the most favourable conditions, ICOMOS encourages State Parties to submit a separate request complying with the procedures set out in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (annexe 11) and within the prescribed deadlines, i.e. 1st February at the latest.

ICOMOS also notes that all modifications to the boundaries of a property and its buffer zone are proposed as "minor" modifications, even when they constitute in fact substantial modifications to the property, or even in some cases an extension of the property. According to the Operational Guidelines, proposals for major modifications, whether extensions or reductions, constitute a new nomination (paragraph 165). ICOMOS recommends to the Committee that this provision should be consistently and rigorously applied.

ICOMOS suggests moreover that an extension of the calendar for the evaluation of such requests should be considered, to bring it into line with the calendar in force for new nominations, which would open up the possibility of dialogue and exchange of information with the States Parties.

6 Serial nominations and extensions

ICOMOS wishes to point out that the Operational Guidelines of November 2011 (paragraph 137) validated a change in the approach to serial properties. Serial nominations should not consist merely of a catalogue of sites, but should instead concern a collection or ensemble of sites with specific cultural, social or functional links over time, in which each site contributes substantially to the Outstanding Universal Value of the serial property as a whole.

ICOMOS wishes to encourage States Parties to give consideration to the implications of this change when preparing serial nominations.

This year, ICOMOS has examined 9 serial nominations, including 93 monuments, ensembles and sites. These nominations require a more substantial investment in terms of human and financial resources at all levels of evaluation of the properties. Because the number of serial nominations is growing, this needs to be taken into account in the budgets and contracts. Furthermore, ICOMOS notes that there are also calendar pressures arising from the task of evaluating these large and complex serial nominations and repeats its suggestion, supported by the Jade Tabet[1] review, that the World Heritage Committee give consideration to an extended timeframe for these kinds of nominations.

A specific evaluation format was set up in 2009 for the serial nominations and extensions. ICOMOS explicitly informs the Committee of the questions it asks in relation to the nature of serial nominations:

a) What is the justification for the serial approach?

b) How were the chosen sites selected? How do they each relate to the overall Outstanding Universal Value of the property?

c) Does the comparative analysis justify the selection of properties?

d) Are the separate components of the property functionally linked?

e) Is there an overall management framework for all components?

The answers to these questions have been integrated in the evaluation format under relevant sections.

7 Development projects

To address the growing need to identify development projects within World Heritage properties during the evaluation cycle, ICOMOS has included in its letters to the State Parties a specific question intended to bring to ICOMOS’ attention any development projects that are planned within the nominated property or in its vicinity, to ensure that comprehensive information is received concerning these potential projects. This has been introduced to respond to growing concern felt by the World Heritage Committee about such development plans and projects. ICOMOS has once again suggested that during the nomination evaluation procedure the Committee should apply provisions similar to those stipulated in paragraph 172, inviting the States Parties to inform the Committee of “their intention to undertake or to authorize in an area protected under the Convention major restorations or new constructions which may affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the property […].

ICOMOS points out that it has drawn up a document entitled “Guidance on impact assessments for cultural World Heritage sites”, which was made available to the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session, and can be consulted on its website. This guidance has been translated into several languages.

8 Issue of calendar and timing

ICOMOS is working under increasing time pressure due to the growing number of complex nominations (serial properties and cultural landscapes). Furthermore, in the past, supplementary information received from States Parties was examined after the meeting of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee, which was held in June/July, following the initial assessment process for nominations. Today this examination is carried out during the evaluation period itself, well ahead of the World Heritage Committee meeting.

9 Upstream process

ICOMOS, at the request of the World Heritage Committee, has participated in the drawing up of feasibility studies for 10 pilot projects selected in conjunction with the World Heritage Centre, and has contributed to the advancement of the projects’ implementation. Unfortunately, because of a lack of resources, ICOMOS has been unable to review and provide advices concerning certain draft nomination dossiers received by the Centre on 30 September 2012.

As was stressed during the meeting entitled “The World Heritage Convention: Thinking Ahead”, held on 2 and 3 October 2012, ICOMOS is prepared to make its expertise available for the development of the upstream process in preparing and following up nomination dossiers, as far as this is possible with the resources available.

The activities in which ICOMOS has been involved in this respect (advisory missions, meetings, consultations), organised sufficiently in advance, have already had positive outcomes for some nominations.

10 Integrated management in natural reserves

ICOMOS has noted, in its evaluations of properties located in natural reserves (mixed properties or cultural landscapes), that there is frequently an imbalance, compared with natural elements, in the attention paid to cultural values and elements in the reserves’ conservation and management tools. It would therefore be advisable to reinforce the integrated management of natural and cultural elements and values.

[1]Tabet J., Review of ICOMOS’ working methods and procedures for the evaluation of cultural and mixed properties nominated for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Paris, ICOMOS, 2010.

2011

(December 02, 2011) - 1st International Conference of ICBS on Protecting the World’s Cultural Heritage in Times of Change: Emergency Preparedness and Response - 08-10 December 2011, National Museum of Korea, Seoul - Web site - Programme

(November 28, 2011) - Follow the latest news about the 17th General Assembly on twitter

(November 27, 2011) - Opening of the 17th General Assembly of ICOMOS Read

(November 25, 2011) - Launch of the new ICOMOS web site (the content of the new web site is for the time being mainly formed by the content of the previous web site. We are still working on some topics, which should be made available early 2012. A new web site for the documentation center is also foreseen and will be available during the first half of 2012)

(May 2, 2011) - ICOMOS comments on the first draft of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape. Read (All the received comments from Member States on the First Draft have been posted on the Web. Read)

(October 15, 2010) - Euromed Heritage at the International Heritage Show 2010 (Paris, 4-7 November) - Don’t miss the conference “The areas of recent and modern heritage: an asset for Mediterranean cities” on November 4. More info

2008

The Report from the ICOMOS Thematic Workshop on Cultural Heritage and Climate Change, which was held at the 16th General Assembly in Quebec in 2008, is now available for download in the ICOMOS and Global Climate Change section

The Quebec Declaration now also available in Portuguese PDF: [Portuguese]

Organized by Prof. Marco Dezzi Bardeschi, President of ICOMOS Italy, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture, the Fondazione Politecnico di Milano and ICOMOS International will be officially opened on 22 March 2007 in Ferrara (Italy) at the Salone del Restauro.

To order: Thirty (30%) discount available to ICOMOS members by calling Cambridge University Press, 1-800-872-7423 in the United States or 1223-312393 in the United Kingdom. When ordering, please give the discount code “MS5ARTCUL” and indicate that you are an ICOMOS member.

]]>What we doThu, 24 Nov 2011 14:11:55 +0000 The Raymond Lemaire International Fund Programme for the next generation skillshttp://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/education-training-and-projects/raymond-lemaire
http://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/education-training-and-projects/raymond-lemaire(disponible pour l'instant uniquement en anglais / For the time being, available only in English)

“ICOMOS was not conceived as a place for people to boost their own sense of self-worth, but as a way of serving the universal community”.That is how, when in 1993 he retraced how ICOMOS had come into being, Raymond Lemaireemphasized the need at that time to bring together people from all the disciplines of theconservation and restoration of the heritage. He wanted an association of members who werehighly professionally qualified, guaranteeing scientific seriousness and at the same time being opento and respectful of differences of conception and sensibility. ICOMOS “is not a platform for vanity,but for dedication. The idea of servus servorum culturae is the very core of the responsibilities weagree to bear. That is what makes it possible to promote understanding and friendship”. ForRaymond Lemaire, “the special contribution of ICOMOS to peace and understanding between menis not a secondary objective”.

About the Fund

Professors Piero Gazzola and Raymond Lemaire, two of the founders of ICOMOS, attached thegreatest importance to training young professionals and welcoming them into the ICOMOS family.Since 1981, at every General Assembly, ICOMOS has awarded the Gazzola Prize to a person orgroup of persons who has worked with distinction towards the objectives of ICOMOS. In 1999, theGeneral Assembly in Mexico passed Resolution 29, which envisaged the creation of an InternationalFund named after Raymond Lemaire designed to raise funds for training young heritageprofessionals. Thanks to study bursaries and cooperation arrangements with training organisations,these young heritage professionals would be enabled, throughout the whole world, to take part inpost-graduate courses or traineeships in conservation and restoration.With the creation of this Fund, endorsed in March 2008 by the Executive Committee, the names ofthe two founding fathers of ICOMOS are reunited by two different but complementary initiatives.The Fund has received particular support from Carmen Añon, Jean Barthélemy, Françoise Choay,Maria Pia Gazzola, Marie-Jeanne Geerts, Bernadette Gradis, Donald Insall, Jukka Jokilehto, MarkLaenen, François Leblanc, Jean-Louis Luxen, Andries Van den Abeele, ICOMOS Belgium and thechildren of Raymond Lemaire. The sum of 5000 Euros has been raised to launch the Fund.

About Raymond Lemaire

Born on 28th May 1921 in Uccle, Brussels, into a family of architects, Raymond Lemaire wastrained in History, Art History, and Archaeology at the Catholic University of Louvain. His doctoratethesis (1949) was on “The Origin of the Gothic Style in Brabant”. A lecturer since 1947, he wasappointed to a professorship in 1954.He is one of the authors of the “Venice Charter”, which he drafted during the 2nd InternationalCongress of Architects and Monument Technicians in 1964, at the request of his colleague andfriend Piero Gazzola. The “Venice Charter” later became the basis for the creation of ICOMOS in1965. After almost ten years as Secretary General of ICOMOS, Raymond Lemaire succeeded PieroGazzola as President of ICOMOS in 1975.A teacher in many Universities, Raymond Lemaire was above all a “visionary, a master and aconservator without equal”, in the words of Dr. Roland Silva, past president of ICOMOS. During hislife, he was particularly concerned with the education of young professionals. In 1976, he founded,as part of the College of Europe in Bruges, the Centre for Conservation of Historic Towns andBuildings, under the patronage of ICOMOS. In 1981, the Centre moved to the K.U.Leuven. It hasup to this date trained more than 700 young heritage professionals and today bears the name “TheRaymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation” (RLICC).In her tribute at his funeral in 1997, Françoise Choay summed up the essence of RaymondLemaire’s personality as follows: “For all of us who came from the four corners of the world to theCentre to study, search, work, explore our potential, for all us students, educators, researchers,and also for his colleagues, he was simply ‘The Professor’: an affectionate designation which didnot just indicate his knowledge and authority, but also the effect of his presence, that fatherlyspirituality which, in conversation with him, made the other person bring out that what was best inthemselves”. This, then, shall also be the aim of the Raymond Lemaire International Fund.

Donate to the Fund

By donating to the Fund, you will be helping the professionals of tomorrow to secure the besttraining. By enabling them to hone their skills in the best centres all over the world, you will helpyoung people to develop that frame of mind so dear to Raymond Lemaire: learning to respect thedifferences of conception and sensibility of all peoples and all civilisations.The Executive Committee of ICOMOS will decide on the method of disbursal and the Fund will bemanaged by the International Secretariat.If you want to help the Fund, send your donations to the ICOMOS account :IBAN: FR76 3007 6023 5211 5890 0020 018BIC / SWIFT Code: NORDFRPPPlease mark your donation “Fonds Raymond Lemaire”ICOMOS - 11 rue du Séminaire de Conflans, 94 220 Charenton-le-Pont, France

]]>What we doMon, 21 Nov 2011 15:20:16 +0000Sustainable developmenthttp://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/focus/energy-savings-and-sustainable-development
http://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/focus/energy-savings-and-sustainable-developmentUnder this section we wish to gather relevant documents on the relationship between sustainable development and cultural heritage conservation.

]]>What we doTue, 15 Nov 2011 12:32:50 +0000The role of ICOMOS in the World Heritage Conventionhttp://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/image-what-we-do/268-he-role-of-icomos-in-the-world-heritage-convention
http://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/image-what-we-do/268-he-role-of-icomos-in-the-world-heritage-convention

ICOMOS is one of the three formal advisory bodies to the World Heritage Committee. It participates in the implementation of the Convention, along with IUCN ( the International Union for the Conservation of Nature), based at Gland (Switzerland), and ICCROM (the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), based in Rome (Italy). ICOMOS is the professional and scientific advisor to the Committee on all aspects of the cultural heritage.

ICOMOS is in particular responsible for the evaluation of all nominations of cultural and mixed properties against the basic criterion of “outstanding universal value,” and the other criteria as specified in the Convention.

The ICOMOS procedure for evaluating nominations to the World Heritage List

There is a clearly defined annual procedure and calendar for the evaluation of nominations to the World Heritage List.

This evaluation process is coordinated by the World Heritage Unit of the ICOMOS International Secretariat, in collaboration with the ICOMOS World Heritage Working Group and the ICOMOS World Heritage Panel and involves widest possible collaboration and consultation, both in terms of the specialist expertise but also the geographical and cultural sensibilities present within the ICOMOS network.

For each nominated property, ICOMOS assesses whether it bears testimony of an outstanding universal value (whether it meets the criteria of the Operational Guidelines and the conditions of authenticity and integrity), whether legal protection is adequate and whether the management processes are satisfactory.

The preparatory work is done in several stages, including an initial study of the dossiers, consultations and the organization of a technical evaluation mission.

New nominations must be submitted by States parties to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Paris before 1 February of each year. The World Heritage Centre checks that nomination dossiers submitted are complete and delivers them to the ICOMOS International Secretariat by 15 March of the same year.

The dossiers are then subject to an initial study to identify the various issues relating to the property and the choice of the various experts who will be called on to study the dossier (ICOMOS advisers, experts for the mission, desk reviewers).

Experts, either from within the ICOMOS network (International Scientific Committees and National Committees) or from partners organisations or other entities with specific expertise are consulted to express their opinion about the comparative analysis and the outstanding universal value of the nominated properties.

ICOMOS also seeks the advice of specialist bodies with which it maintains close relations: TICCIH (the International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage), IFLA (the International Federation of Landscape Architects) and DOCOMOMO (the International Committee for the Documentation and Conservation of Monuments and Sites of the Modern Movement).

At the same time, technical evaluation missions are organized for all properties with the aim to study the authenticity, integrity, factors affecting the property, protection, conservation and management. As a rule, ICOMOS calls on a person from the region in which the nominated property is located. In certain exceptional circumstances, often in cases in which the nature of the property is unusual, the expert may not originate from the region concerned. Technical evaluation missions are carried out jointly with IUCN for mixed properties and for some cultural landscapes. All experts have a duty of confidentiality. Their opinion about the nomination does not necessarily reflect that of the organisation; it is the ICOMOS World Heritage Panel which, after acquainting itself with all the information, analyses it and determines the organisation's position.

The World Heritage Unit at the ICOMOS International Secretariat receives the mission reports and desk reviews during the months of September and October (missions are sometimes delayed for climatic or political reasons).

Draft evaluations (in English or French) are prepared on the basis of the information contained in the nomination dossiers, mission reports, desk reviews and research. These draft evaluations are then examined by the ICOMOS World Heritage Panel during a 4- 5 day meeting held at the beginning of December of the same year. The Panel comprises the elected or co-opted Executive Committee members, representing all regions of the world and a wide range of skills and experience, as well as international experts, all members of ICOMOS chosen for their particular area of expertise based on the nominated properties. It defines the recommendations on each property and identifies the additional information requests to be sent to States Parties, if necessary. Any additional documentation received is examined by the ICOMOS World Heritage Working Group which meets in March of the following year.

Following these meetings, the evaluations are revised, translated into the two working languages of the World Heritage Committee, printed and dispatched to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre for distribution to the members of the World Heritage Committee. They are then presented to the session of the World Heritage Committee.

As an advisory body, ICOMOS makes a recommendation based on an objective, rigorous and scientific analysis. However, decisions are the responsibility of the World Heritage Committee. The process relies on the Committee members and their knowledge of the nominations and the evaluations published by the Advisory bodies.

Involvement of ICOMOS International Scientific and National Committees

The ICOMOS National and International Scientific Committees constitute a network and an asset with remarkable potential covering all world regions and the many issues linked to heritage preservation.

The International Scientific Committees are consulted in the evaluation process, according to their area of expertise and on two specific aspects: scientific consultations on the outstanding universal value of the nominated properties and the identification of experts for the technical evaluation missions. They also play an important role in the preparation of thematic studies.

ICOMOS informs its National Committees of nominations submitted by their governments. They are also informed of the experts who will undertake the technical evaluation missions. This allows Committees to ensure that the experts can meet with representatives of the National Committees who can provide valuable clarifications on the management and state of conservation of the properties, which official sources could not provide. The role of National Committees in this process is to support the work of ICOMOS, in relation with the State Party and the expert, and to provide background technical advice.

National Committees and International Scientific Committees must always pass through the ICOMOS International Secretariat in their contacts with UNESCO and the World Heritage Centre.

Reports on the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List

ICOMOS takes an active part in monitoring the state of conservation and management of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List through the organization of reactive monitoring missions and advisory missions, by providing technical advice on specific issues (development projects, management plans ...) facing certain properties and also by drafting reports on the state of conservation of properties that are examined by the World Heritage Committee and based on which a recommendation is adopted. A reflection on the threats to World Heritage properties has also been conducted and tools have been implemented, for example enabling States Parties to conduct Heritage Impact Assessments to determine the potential impact of development projects on the outstanding universal value of a property.

Assessment requests for international assistance

The Convention provides for the establishment of the World Heritage Fund, made up of contributions by States Parties. ICOMOS advises the UNESCO World Heritage Centre on international assistance requests received from States Parties. Such assistance is allocated under the following headings : preparatory assistance, emergency assistance, training and technical cooperation.

The intellectual development of the Convention

ICOMOS is closely associated with all aspects of the intellectual development of the Convention. Through regional conferences and workshops and the publication of reports it has made major contributions to the development of the Global Strategy. It has played a key role in defining the concepts of authenticity and cultural landscapes. ICOMOS has been involved in several meetings working on the revision of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

It published the study “Filling the gaps – An action plan for the future”, an analysis of the World Heritage List which is seen as a contribution to the further development of the Global Strategy for a credible, representative and balanced World Heritage List. ICOMOS has also been involved in the preparation of manuals and on the reflection on the concept of Outstanding Universal Value. ICOMOS’s activities include participation to programmes on climate change and on tourism.

Conclusion

ICOMOS gives the highest priority to its work in relation to the World Heritage Convention, since this enables the organization to mobilize its unique scientific and professional resources and make them available to all the countries of world and to all humankind, thereby fulfilling its declared objectives.

The Gazzola Prize was established in 1979 in memory of Piero Gazzola, one of the greatest defenders of the conservation and restoration of historic monuments and sites, and a founder of ICOMOS. The prize is awarded every three years at the General Assembly of ICOMOS to an individual or a group of people who have worked together and contributed with distinction to the aims and objectives of ICOMOS. The beneficiary must be a member of ICOMOS and is chosen by the Selection Committee itself elected by the Executive Committee of ICOMOS. The Prize is a commemorative medal and diploma, and has been previously awarded to:

Mr Jean Trouvelot (1981)

Prof Stanislas Lorentz (1984)

Prof Masaru Sekino (1987)

Mrs Gertrude Tripp (1990)

Sir Bernard Fielden (1993)

Dr Ernest Allen Connally (1996)

Dr Roland Silva (1999)

Mr Cevat Erder (2003)

Mrs Ann Webster Smith (2005)

Mrs Carmen Añón Feliú (2008)

Mr Nobuo Ito (2011)

Mr Henry Cleere (2014)

Honorary membership of ICOMOS

In accordance with Article 6. A. of the ICOMOS Statutes, Honorary Membership is conferred by the General Assembly, at the proposal of a National Committee, upon individuals who have rendered distinguished service in the field of conservation, restoration and enhancement of historical monuments, sites, and groups of buildings. The selection is effectuated by the same Selection Committee as for the Gazzola Prize and approved by the General Assembly. So far Honorary Membership of ICOMOS has been conferred on :

1975/78:

- Stanislaw Lorentz - Poland

- Jan Zachwatowicz -Poland

- Milton Lord - USA

1981:

- Ernest A. Conally - USA

- Guglielmo de Angelis d'Ossat - Italy

- Vladimir Ivanov - USSR

- Jean Sonnier – France

1987:

- Emanuel Hruska - Czechoslovakia

- René Pechère - Belgium

- Alfred R. Schmid - Switzerland

1990:

- Bernard Feilden - UK

- Ann Webster Smith - USA

- M.W. Hansberger - GDR

- M.D. Derscenyi - Hungary (posthumously)

- H. Foramitti - Austria (posthumously)

1993:

- Alfred Majewski - Poland

- Géza Entz - Hungary (posthumously)

- Jorge Gazaneo - Argentina

- Radu Popa - Roumania (posthumously)

- Stephan Tschudi-Madsen - Norway

1996:

- Dobroslav Libal - Czech Republic

- Peyo Nikolov Berbenliev - Bulgaria

- Cevat Erder - Turkey

- Miklos Horler - Hungary

- Mladen Georgiev Mintchev - Bulgaria

- Richard Benjamin Nunoo - Ghana

1999:

- Maurice Carbonnell - France

- Olgierd Czerner - Poland

- Hiroshi Daifuku - USA

- Joan Domicelj - Australia

- Jan Jessurun - the Netherlands

- Maija Kairamo - Finland

- Harald Langberg - Denmark

- Paul Mylonas - Greece

- Andras Roman - Hungary

- Augusto da Silva Telles – Brazil

2003:

- Robertson Collins – USA (posthumously)

- Carl Filip Mannerstrale – Sweden (posthumously)

- Mihaly Zador – Hungary (posthumously)

- Rachelle Anguelova – Bulgaria

- Marta Arjona Perez – Cuba

- Yves Boiret – France

- Henry Cleere – UK

- Jacques Dalibard – Canada

- CL Temminck Groll – Netherlands

- Krzysztof Pawlowski - Poland

2005:

- Alberto González Pozo - Mexico

- Nobuo Ito - Japan

- Vassos Karageorghis - Cyprus

- Todor Krestev - Bulgaria

- Victor Armando Pimentel Gurmendi - Peru

- Sharon Sullivan - Australia

- Sherban Cantacuzino - UK

- Varazdat Harutiunyan - Armenia

- Blanche Weicherding-Goergen - Luxembourg

2008:

- Juan-Benito Artigas Hernandez - Mexico

- Cyro Correa Lyra- Brazil

- Hernan Crespo Toral - Ecuador (posthumously)

- Tamas Fejerdy - Hungary

- Jonas Glemza - Lithuania

- Zahi Hawass - Egypt

- Birgitta Hoberg - Sweden

- Mr Michel Jantzen - France

- Gilles Nourissier - France (posthumously)

- Kiyotari Tsuboi (Japan)

2011:

- Juan Bassegoda Nonell - Spain

- Carlos Flores Marini - Mexico

- Alvaro Gomez-Ferrer Bayo - Spain

- Ove Hidemark - Sweden

- James Semple Kerr - Australia

- Masaru Maeno - Japan

- Nicolas Moutsopoulos - Greece

- Henrique Oswaldo de Andrade - Brasil

- Paul Philippot - Belgium

- Mario Federico Roggero - Italy

- Gabor Winkler - Hungary

2014:

- Kristal Buckley - Australia

- Jukka Jokilehto - Finland

- William J. Murtagh - USA

- Eugenio Pérez Montás - Dominican Republic

- Angela Rojas - Cuba

- Carlos Scheltema - The Netherlands

- Giora Solar - Israel

- Roberto Di Stefano - Italy (posthumously)

- Herb Stovel - Canada (posthumously)

- Augusto Villalon - Philippines

- Zsolt Visy - Hungary

- Dionysis Zivas - Greece

]]>What we doMon, 14 Nov 2011 15:37:33 +0000Training by National Committees / Formation par les comités nationauxhttp://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/education-training-and-projects/training-by-the-national-committees
http://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/education-training-and-projects/training-by-the-national-committeesWe are still working on this page, it will be available soon.

New Delhi Resolution on Impact of Climate Change on Cultural Heritage

Adopted in New Delhi on 22 May 2007 at the ICOMOS International Workshop on Impact of Climate Change on Cultural Heritage ( The Recommendations issued by this meeting are still being worked on by ICORP and will be presented at meetings taking place at the next General Assembly)

]]>What we doThu, 10 Nov 2011 17:29:56 +0000Human Rights and World Heritagehttp://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/focus/human-rights-and-world-heritage
http://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/focus/human-rights-and-world-heritageThis page gathers documents and information related to the issue of Human Rights and World Heritage and the current efforts by the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Convention to increase understanding of approaches that clarify the rights dimension in World Heritage work.

The project - World Heritage and Rights-Based Approaches. Learning from practice: Building capacity to support rights-based approaches in the World Heritage Convention - carried out in 2014 by IUCN, ICCROM and ICOMOS was presented to the 2014 World Heritage Committee Meeting in Doha, Qatar through a summary report (distributed). During the World Heritage Committee session there was also a well-attended Advisory Bodies Side Event arranged on this topic.

The project was structured as a number of case studies presented and discussed at a workshop that took place in Oslo in early April 2014. The workshop participants issued a final statement that provides a basis for further dialogue and work by the three Advisory Bodies.

To access all the available material click here (you will be redirected to the ICOMOS Norway website – the documentation will shortly be transferred also to the ICOMOS main website)

- promote international cooperation in the identification, study and solution of issues related to the ethical identification, protection, interpretation, and management of the intangible cultural associations attributed to monuments and sites.

- co-operate with the International Scientific Committees of ICOMOS in reviewing doctrinal documents as well as management and conservation practices, in light of the role of intangible attributes in the significance and values of cultural heritage sites.

- advise ICOMOS on any role it may have in the implementation of, or other activities associated with UNESCO’s International Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage

- To advise ICOMOS on the role of intangible attributes in the role it plays in implementation of other UNESCO Conventions and international treaties, such as the World Heritage Convention and The Hague Convention.

ICICH carries out its activities within the framework of a triennial programme through, among other, conferences, workshops and other means for direct inter-personal exchanges, study visits, publications, specialist advisory services to ICOMOS and others.

UNESCO World Heritage List

→ World Heritage List: browse the 936 inscribed properties on the UNESCO World Heritage Centre website.

Thematic Studies for the World Heritage Convention

→ To fulfill its obligations concerning cultural properties, ICOMOS undertakes comparative and thematic studies, often with partner organizations, in different subject areas in order to provide a context for its evaluations. Thematic studies webpage

Resources and tools

→ World Heritage Site Visit Report - [Form]. This form is directed to individual ICOMOS members. Its object is to enable them to provide short, informal reports on their observations, as professionals, on what they see during their visits of towns, monuments, and sites that are inscribed on the World Heritage List in their own countries or abroad.

→ Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention. The World Heritage Committee, the main body in charge of the implementation of the Convention, has developed precise criteria for the inscription of properties on the World Heritage List and for the provision of international assistance under the World Heritage Fund. These are all included in this document which has been revised by the Committee to reflect new concepts, knowledge or experiences.

→ "Preparing World Heritage Nominations (First Edition, 2010)" is now available as the second title within the World Heritage Resource Manual Series. Read more - Download (PDF, 4,11 MB)